PROJECT: CAYRO

Cayro Bracton:

September 5, 2025

04:13 CST

The Autumn

45,000 feet over Copano Bay TX.

I woke up staring at the upper bunk, blinking as the fog of sleep slowly cleared from my mind. It took a moment for the disorientation to fade, for my thoughts to settle, and for me to remember where I was. I turned my head, scanning the dimly lit room. The Captain was there, sitting in a chair, his usual casual posture with his arms draped over the backrest. His forehead rested on his arms as he slept, looking more exhausted than I’d ever seen him.

Then, like a dam breaking, the memories of what had happened flooded back, overwhelming me. I bolted upright—only to slam my head into the damned upper bunk again. For the second time. Damnit… I really need to stop doing that. One of these days, I’m going to give myself a concussion. The noise jarred the Captain awake, and he lifted his head, his eyes immediately locking onto me as I clutched my forehead in pain.

“Are you okay?” he asked, standing up quickly, concern edging his voice.

“Not really,” I muttered through gritted teeth, the pain pulsing like a dull hammer against my skull.

Eventually, the worst of the pain faded, leaving me lying limp in bed, glaring at the infernal upper bunk as if it were my sworn enemy. Alright, that’s it… the first chance I get, I’m tearing that thing out and launching it out the nearest hull door. I continued to stare at the ceiling, wrestling with the frustration and dread that gnawed at me. Finally, I spoke.

“Sir, they abducted Star,” I said, my voice flat, devoid of the panic and fear I felt boiling just beneath the surface.

“We know,” he replied, his voice grim. “They attacked the Autumn with another airship called the Death Reckoning. The hangar and flight deck are a mess.”

I let out a long, defeated sigh, sitting up and swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. “What are we going to do to get her back?” I asked, the desperation in my voice barely concealed.

“Well, it’s not what we are going to do that’s the question,” he said, his tone serious, almost ominous. “The real question is… what are you going to do?”

His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. I looked at him, cocking an eyebrow in confusion. “What do you mean?” I asked, a sinking feeling starting to form in my gut.

“The choice I’m about to give you will determine if we save Star or if we have to make a different decision—one I really don’t want to make,” he said, his voice deadpan, the weight of command heavy on every word.

“Yeah? What is this choice you’re offering me?” I asked bluntly, trying to keep my voice steady, even as my heart pounded in my chest.

“We complete your augmentation,” he began, his eyes locking onto mine, “and send you after Star with no real training, hoping that your instincts and raw abilities will be enough to rescue her.”

I swallowed hard, the implications of his words hitting me like a freight train. “And if I choose not to do that? Or if I fail?” I asked, though deep down, I knew there was no choice—I would go through with the augmentation to save her, no matter the cost.

“If you choose not to, or if you fail to rescue her,” he said, his voice cold, final, “we will destroy the ship, killing everyone on board—including you and Star.”

I stared at him, disbelief and horror washing over me. He’d kill us both, just to prevent our capture. The magnitude of what he was asking, of what he was willing to do, left me speechless.

“Cayro,” he said, his tone shifting, more solemn now, “I’m not speaking to you as your friend or mentor right now. I’m speaking as a military captain, tasked with protecting an asset at all costs. That asset is the combined knowledge and research that you and Star represent. If it means your death to protect that knowledge, then that’s what I’ll do. It’s not what I want to do. What I’m hoping is that you care enough for Star to put your life on the line for her and rescue her.”

His words landed heavily, each one a stark reminder of the brutal reality we were facing. There was no room for hesitation, no time for doubt. I had to make a choice—one that would decide not just my fate, but Star’s as well.

I sat there, piecing everything together, each thought more harrowing than the last. The U.S. Military had Star, and if they got her back to a research lab, it would be the end for her. They would bleed her dry for every bit of genetic information, using it to resurrect a project that should have stayed buried. The Captain knew it, and so did I. That left him with two grim options: sacrifice Star and destroy the Death Reckoning to prevent the military from getting their hands on us, or send me in, augmented and untrained, to rescue her. Team SAF didn’t have the manpower for a full-scale rescue, and we both knew it. The crew was trained for defense, not infiltration.

The choice was clear, really. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what I was going to do.

“Captain, I owe it to her. I’m willing to risk my life to save hers,” I said, meeting his gaze without flinching. The resolve in my voice was mirrored by the cold determination in my gut. There was no other option.

I watched as a shiver ran down Andrew’s spine, his eyes flickering with something like pride or relief. Then, a sly grin cracked across his face, breaking the tension that had gripped the room.

“It’s about time you called me Andrew. You’ve earned that much. So, don’t you ever call me ‘Captain’ again,” he said, his voice carrying a mix of pride and finality.

I nodded, feeling a strange mix of emotions as I stood from the bed. Andrew rose with me, snapping to attention, his expression suddenly solemn.

“This will be my final order to you as your captain,” he stated, his tone clear and precise, the weight of the moment settling heavily between us.

I mimicked his posture, standing straight and looking him dead in the eyes.

“Captain Cayro Jacob Bracton, your orders are as follows: Complete the project augmentation, infiltrate the U.S.S. Death Reckoning, rescue 1st Lieutenant Staralyne Tabitha Zaraki, and escape. Upon completion of these orders, you and Staralyne Tabitha Zaraki will be released from duty to live your lives as you see fit. You are not to return to the Autumn,” he announced, each word punctuated with the gravity of a final command.

“Orders acknowledged, Captain Andrew N. Clark. Upon completion of the mission, Captain Cayro Jacob Bracton and 1st Lieutenant Staralyne Tabitha Zaraki will be released from active-duty service aboard the SAF Autumn,” a computerized voice chimed in, echoing through the room.

I blinked, trying to process what I had just heard. Captain? What the hell?

“Huh… Andrew, I’m confused,” I admitted, my mind reeling from this new revelation.

“I had to do that to release you from the Autumn’s protection. You and Star are the true captains of this ship. For your safety, we’re going to use the Autumn as a decoy to draw the military away from you. I need you to release command of the ship so it won’t follow you,” he explained, his tone steady but his eyes betraying a flicker of concern.

Nodding, I gave him the best salute I could muster. “I acknowledge these orders and relinquish command of the SAF Autumn to Captain Andrew N. Clark.”

“Orders have been acknowledged by Captain Cayro Jacob Bracton. The SAF Autumn, formerly known as U.S.S. Autumn, is hereby under the command of Captain Andrew N. Clark,” the computerized voice confirmed again.

Andrew returned my salute before turning to leave. I followed him out of the room and down the corridor to the cybernetics lab. The Doctor and the rest of the crew were already there, waiting outside as if they knew what my choice would be. No one spoke, but Desiree stepped forward, wrapping me in a tight hug. Tears glistened in her eyes as she pulled away, and I could feel the weight of her emotions—Star meant everything to her, and my decision to rescue her carried more meaning than I could express.

Stepping into the lab with Andrew and the Doctor, the door closed behind us with a soft clang, sealing my fate.

“Cayro, you’re going to need to strip down to your boxers,” the Doctor ordered, his voice all business now.

I undressed, folding my clothes neatly and placing them in a drawer beneath the wall locker that now bore my name and rank. Turning around, I faced Andrew and the Doctor, who directed me to the cold, stainless operating table that dominated the center of the room. I took a deep breath and climbed onto it with Andrew’s help, the freezing metal biting into my skin, causing me to tense involuntarily.

The Doctor approached, holding a needle and an IV tube. “Okay, Cayro, I’m going to give you a sedative. You’ll sleep through the operation and won’t remember any of it,” he explained, his voice steady but gentle.

I nodded, feeling the sting of the needle as it pierced my skin, followed by the cold tingle of the sedative working its way through my veins. The room began to blur around the edges as my eyelids grew heavy. Darkness crept into my vision, and before long, it swallowed me whole.